Design and synthesis of functionalized styrene-butadiene copolymers by means of living anionic polymerization

Styrene-butadiene copolymers (SBR) end-functionalized with dimethylamino groups at the initiating and terminating chain-ends were successfully synthesized by a one-step methodology based on living anionic polymerization using 1-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-1-phenylethylene. The expected structures of the resulting copolymers were confirmed by H-1-NMR, SEC, and SLS analyses, titration, and model reactions. Furthermore, the possible synthesis of tri-functionalized styrene-butadiene copolymer with dimethylamino groups in a chain by extending the methodology is described.